Democratic National Committee Issues Statement on Juneteeth

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Juneteenth is celebrated in America on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery. Also known as “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day,” it is not officially a federal holiday (yet), but the day is a time of celebration, remembrance and most importantly education.

“The roots of Juneteenth go deeper than the Civil War,” said Mark Lacy, founder of the Houston Institute for Culture, a nonprofit that focuses on the multi-cultural needs of the city and is hosting Juneteenth events with live music, readings, poetry and more.

“The significance of abolishing slavery in Mexico also affected Texas,” he said. The institute takes a multi-cultural approach to celebrating Juneteenth and other holidays.

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine and DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie M. Rollins issued the following statement commemorating Juneteenth:
 
“On this day in 1865, emancipation finally made it west, freeing the last slaves in Texas.  So today, we commemorate the end of slavery in America and honor all those throughout our history who have fought for freedom, equality and justice by celebrating Juneteenth.
 
“As we take time to honor this occasion, we also stop to consider the remarkable path African Americans have forged, from slavery to the White House.  With the first African American President of the United States, we usher in an era of endless opportunity.  A new generation of Americans will be raised with no limits to their dreams – something their predecessors, who fought for equality as slaves in the fields of Texas and Freedom Riders in the streets of Alabama, may have never been able to imagine.
 
“But while we have come a long way, we still have further to go.  We at the DNC join President Obama and the African American community in the fight to ensure equality in education, employment, and health care for all Americans.”

This story is filed under: Arts & Culture

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